Gratuitous Baby Cardinalfish thread

Projects with Sam · Jun 16, 2022

This thread is for video and photos of the 12 baby cardinalfish I've been graced with. As per request, plenty of feeding videos!
Some images of the parents and the fry in the bucket right after I stripped the male. I knew he was ready by looking for fry in his mouth whenever I was near the tank. I didn't have bbs ready so I put my copepod hotel in. The fry split-up evenly between the two decorations.

Projects with Sam · Jun 16, 2022

rmorris_14 · Jun 16, 2022

OH. M.Y. G.O.S.H. Their big eyes and their little bodies are so adorable!!!!!!

I watched the second video 5 times hahaha

Thank you for making a dedicated thread. I'd love to watch them develop and know how you are raising them. So far you have made the whole process seem easy. Is that because you have experience raising Cichlids or is it more difficult than it appears?

Most importantly, has your wife seen them yet?!?!?!

Projects with Sam · Jun 16, 2022

lol nope! and she avoids my workshop so I'm in the clear for a bit. I'll sell some before I tell her ;) or just drop 'em all in my DT. semi-free coral food!

Projects with Sam · Jun 16, 2022

SHINYSuccubus · Jun 16, 2022

Projects with Sam said:
This thread is for video and photos of the 12 baby cardinalfish I've been graced with. As per request, plenty of feeding videos!
Some images of the parents and the fry in the bucket right after I stripped the male. I knew he was ready by looking for fry in his mouth whenever I was near the tank. I didn't have bbs ready so I put my copepod hotel in. The fry split-up evenly between the two decorations.

this almost gave me a cuteness overload stroke!!!

Karen00 · Jun 16, 2022

OMG! That is crazy cute! They're like fully formed micro cardinals. Do their eyes glow? They look like the eyes on an alien. :-) Congrats on this!

Projects with Sam · Jun 16, 2022

Thanks! I had a lot of experience with this from my cichlid days - I would strip the females so my tank wouldn't be inundated with fish. I liked watching the mating behaviors so I didn't go all male tank...

These little guys are beyond cute in person... Unfortunately the tank is on the bottom level of a shelf... I find myself laying on my workshop floor getting all sawdusty watching these little guys. I may or may not have passed-out there for a bit yesterday.

i cant think · Jun 16, 2022

I’m intrigued, has anyone ever attempted to replicate their wild habitat? Where juveniles will hide in the spines of long spine urchins to hide from predators, remaining in groups to hide more.

rmorris_14 · Jun 16, 2022

i cant think said:
I’m intrigued, has anyone ever attempted to replicate their wild habitat? Where juveniles will hide in the spines of long spine urchins to hide from predators, remaining in groups to hide more.

Do you mean instead of the fake urchins he has, use live urchins?

Projects with Sam · Jun 16, 2022

I've seen a post here on R2R where someone didn't know their male was carrying then they see a bunch of babies hanging out with their log-spine urchin.

Projects with Sam · Jun 16, 2022

I'm 3D printing more brine shrimp hatcheries so I can keep up with these guys!

i cant think · Jun 16, 2022

rmorris_14 said:
Do you mean instead of the fake urchins he has, use live urchins?

I more mean in general if anyone has ever tried real urchins.

i cant think · Jun 16, 2022

Projects with Sam said:
I've seen a post here on R2R where someone didn't know their male was carrying then they see a bunch of babies hanging out with their log-spine urchin.

This is what I’m interested in! Is if anyone has ever intentionally had a separate tank with babies and a long spine urchin in and see how they behave and whether it’s different or similar to the wild.